I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Akatsuki's stronghold, Amegakure.

Pain stood atop the tower, looking at the report Konan handed him. Sasori had completed his mission; the small border town of the Land of Rivers was completely annihilated. The reward—twenty million ryo.

"Scorpion's efficiency is higher than Kakuzu's." Konan's voice was calm.

“It’s different.” Payne set the report aside. “Kakuzu has the bounty, Sasori is an employee. We need both.”

Xiao Nan didn't speak again. She stood behind Payne, looking at the village through the rain.

-

Deep within Akatsuki's stronghold, Obito sat alone in the darkness. White Zetsu emerged from the rock wall, half of its body exposed.

"Kakuzu has gone out to find work again. Sasori slaughtered a city. This month's income is quite good."

Obito did not answer.

"Aren't you going to do something? You're the mastermind behind Akatsuki."

"No rush," Obito's voice came from behind the mask, hoarse. "Just let them proceed step by step. We need money."

White Zetsu tilted his head. "Your little friend—Uchiha Sakugo—is currently seeing Tsunade to treat his eyes. Aren't you worried?"

Obito was silent for a moment. "He won't die."

Bai Jue didn't ask any more questions and sank into the rock wall.

Obito sat alone in the darkness, recalling Sakugo's Mangekyou Sharingan. Three black crescent moons. They were the product of resentment, the crystallization of anger.

……

……

……

The Land of Fire, on the border.

Sakugo led a patrol mission for the secret service. Washi followed behind him, a kunai in his hand. "Information received: a small town on the border of the Land of Rivers has been massacred."

"Who did it?"

"I don't know. But there were a lot of traces of iron sand left at the scene." Washi paused. "It looks a lot like the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release."

Sakugo's hand paused on the hilt of his sword. The Third Kazekage was dead, killed by Sasori. Iron Sand Release, Magnet Release—only one person knew how to use it.

—Sasori of the Red Sand.

"dawn."

"Akatsuki?" Washi frowned. "That organization from the Land of Rain?"

"Um."

The eagle was silent for a moment. "Why did they massacre the city? For money?"

"They make their move when someone makes a bid," Shuoge said calmly. "Mercenaries."

Back in Konoha, Sakugo handed the intelligence to Minato. Minato read the report and remained silent for a long time. "Akatsuki has begun accepting war contracts from small countries. They need money, they need resources."

"Should we stop them?"

Minato shook his head. "There's no evidence. The five great nations won't act together. If Konoha acts alone, the other villages will think we're using this as an opportunity to expand our territory."

He put the report in the drawer. "Continue the surveillance."

Shuoge nodded and turned to leave.

……

……

……

Xiao's actions became increasingly frequent.

In the mists of the Land of Rain, a figure clad in a black robe with red clouds traverses the battlefields of various nations. Kakuzu's bounty list grows ever longer, and Sasori's puppet massacres become terrifying legends circulating among smaller countries.

A rumor began to circulate in the ninja world—there was an organization that didn't care about justice or stance; as long as you could afford it, they could kill anyone and destroy anywhere for you.

The intelligence agencies of the five major powers have all taken notice of this organization, but no one can tell its full picture.

Some call it "Akatsuki", some call it "that red cloud robe", and some call it "the ghost of Amegakure".

It's like a thorn, stuck in the fragile cracks of the post-war peace—not fatal, but causing a dull ache.

……

……

……

Uchiha headquarters, training ground.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting patches of light on the ground.

Uchiha Fu stood in the center of the open space, with three children standing in front of him.

Shisui stood on the far left, holding a kunai in his hand, his three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating in the sunlight.

Beside him was a boy of similar age, with hair a bit darker than Shisui's, a smile on his lips, and twirling a shuriken in his hand—Uchiha Sho, with two tomoe.

On the far right is a girl with a ponytail, a quiet expression, and black eyes that haven't been awakened—Uchiha Rin, with a single tomoe.

"Ten-target shuriken drill." The wind's voice wasn't loud. "Begin."

Stop water and invest first.

First one, heart. Second one, heart. Third one, fourth one, fifth one—all ten, hearts.

Xiang's lips twitched. Was he putting so much pressure on him right away?

You're a genius, you're aloof, you're amazing.

He started throwing.

The first one, a bullseye. The second one, a bullseye. The third one was off by an inch, hitting the edge of the bullseye. He gritted his teeth, the fourth one went well, but the fifth one went off again.

Ling threw last, her movements slow but steady. Five bullseyes, five edge balls. Ten hits, no misses.

You don't need to be better than everyone else; as long as you're not at the bottom, you won't get criticized!

Feng nodded. "Shisui, hold on. Sho, don't turn your wrist, go straight out. Ling, you can go a little faster."

Sho was unconvinced and glanced at Shisui. Shisui ignored him and looked down to examine the blade of his kunai.

---

On the other side of the training ground, Uchiha Yan leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed, watching his three students.

Itachi stood at the front, holding a kunai in his hand, his single-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating in its socket.

Next to him was Izumi, with her hair in two buns, twirling a shuriken with a single tomoe in her hand. On the far right was a chubby boy, Uchiha Yuu, who hadn't awakened his Sharingan yet, holding a kunai in his hand, his expression serious but lacking confidence.

"Five-shot shuriken target practice," Yan said calmly. "Itachi goes first."

Itachi threw the first ball, a bullseye. The second ball, a bullseye. The third, the fourth, the fifth—all five balls found the bullseye.

The pressure is at its peak.

Quanmei, however, seemed relaxed. She threw her second ball, the first one a bullseye, the second a bullseye, the third one slightly off, the fourth one steady, and the fifth a bullseye.

Yong threw last. The first shot hit the edge of the bullseye, but the second missed and got stuck in the tree trunk. His face turned red.

"Don't let your wrist shake." Yan walked over, grasped Yong's wrist, and helped him adjust his posture. "Again."

Yong took a deep breath and threw his third shot. This time, it landed right on the edge of the bullseye, without missing the target.

"Okay." Yan loosened his grip and took a step back. "Keep practicing."

---

The afternoon sun grew even stronger. A stone path separated the two training grounds, and the wind blew across from one side of the path to the other, seemingly greeting Yan.

"That Shisui kid, he's got three tomoe already?" Yan glanced at Shisui, who was practicing.

"Yeah. It's going faster than I expected." The wind's voice was low. "And you? How's Itachi?"

"His talent is no less than Shisui's." Yan's gaze fell on Itachi. The child was still practicing, throwing kunai one after another, each one hitting the bullseye.

"But he doesn't talk much."

Feng didn't reply. He glanced at Itachi, then at Shisui, who was tidying up kunai in the distance.

The two children's eyes shimmered in the sunlight; they were red, but not the red of Sharingan eyes—it was just a reflection of light.

---

Shuoge walked past in the distance, knife behind his back, hands hanging at his sides. He didn't stop, nor did he look at the training ground. Feng saw him, seemed about to greet him, but opened his mouth and then closed it again.

Shuoge had already walked away. Yan glanced at Shuoge's retreating figure, then looked away.

"He's been very busy lately."

"Hmm." Feng didn't say anything more.

---

By evening, the training ground was empty.

Shisui stayed behind alone, continuing to throw shuriken at the target. Sho and Rei had already gone home.

The weasel stayed behind, standing in front of the target on the other side, throwing the targets one by one.

The two children stood apart across a stone path, neither speaking. Only the crisp sound of kunai striking the bullseye could be heard.

Sakugo returned from the ANBU stronghold and passed by the training ground. He stopped, glanced at Shisui, then at Itachi. Neither Shisui nor Itachi noticed him. He continued walking without a sound.

The moonlight shone on the training ground, casting long shadows of the two children.

One was taller, the other shorter. One was on the left, the other on the right. Neither was looking at the other, but their swords were both aimed at the same spot—the bullseye.

……

……

……

Three days ago, in the Daimyo Prefecture of the Land of Fire.

Hasegawa sat in his study, an account book spread out in front of him.

He was the daimyo's most trusted financial advisor, controlling nearly 30% of the Fire Country's tax revenue. In recent years, he implemented new policies, rectified many long-standing problems, and offended many powerful figures.

Someone wants him dead.

The secret service intercepted a bounty poster leaked from the black market—one hundred million taels for Hasegawa's head.

There were no signatures, no organizational markers, only amounts and targets.

Who took the order? I don't know.

When will we make our move? I don't know.

But a bounty of 100 million taels is enough to drive the ninja world's top bounty hunters crazy.

-

After receiving the intelligence, Minato went to Daimyo Prefecture in person.

"Lord Hasegawa, Konoha will send people to protect you. But during this time, you will need to cooperate with our relocation."

Hasegawa looked up at Minato. He was a lean man in his fifties, with graying temples and bright eyes. "How long will it take?"

"Until the bounty is withdrawn, or we kill so many people who take the job that we're scared off."

Hasegawa was silent for a moment. "Okay."

---

Konoha Village, Hokage's office.

Minato stood in front of the map, while Sakumo Hatake leaned against the window with his eyes closed.

Sakugo sat in a chair, his sword resting against his leg. Kakashi stood behind him, his headband pulled low. Two other ANBU members, codenamed Eagle and Fox, stood in the doorway.

"Hasegawa is already en route to the evacuation."

Minato drew a line on the map with his finger. "There are three routes from the Daimyo's residence to the safe house on the Konoha border. The enemy won't wait; they'll likely make their move tonight or tomorrow night."

"Can you find out who took the order?" Hatake Sakumo opened his eyes.

"Can't find it. Black market bounties are anonymous." Minato paused. "But not many people would dare to accept a bounty of one hundred million taels. The opponent's strength is beyond doubt."

"So we need bait." Minato looked at Sakugo. "You take the Anbu and escort Hasegawa. When the enemy appears, you hold him off. Kakashi will assist you."

Shuoge stood up, his knife slung behind his back. "Where is the target now?"

"Preparations are complete. Eagle, take them there."

---

Central part of the Land of Fire, on the official road.

Two carriages traveled through the twilight, each guarded by four secret agents.

Hasegawa sat in the second carriage and lifted the curtain to glance at the sky outside.

It was getting dark. Dense forests lined both sides of the road, their shadows swaying in the breeze, rustling softly.

Shuoge rode a horse in front of the carriage.

Kakashi walked beside him, while the hawk and the fox followed behind the caravan. No one spoke; only the rhythmic sound of horses' hooves on the stone pavement could be heard.

"It's too quiet," Kakashi said softly.

Sakugo did not answer. His three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated behind the mask, scanning the trees on both sides. There were no chakra fluctuations, no trace of people.

It's so clean, it looks like it's been cleaned.

"Change route." Shuoge raised his fist, and the convoy stopped. "Take the back road."

The vulture rode over. "The path is narrower, making it easier to set an ambush."

"The main road is the same," Shogo said calmly. "He's waiting for us to choose."

---

The path was even narrower, only wide enough for one horse-drawn carriage to pass at a time.

The trees on both sides grew denser, blocking out the last vestiges of sunlight. The vulture and the fox walked in front, with Sakugo and Kakashi behind. The coachman's hands trembled, and the horses were restless, their nostrils flaring white vapor.

"They're here," Kakashi said in a low voice.

It wasn't chakra, it was a smell. A putrid, muddy odor wafted from deep within the forest.

Shuoge's hand rested on the hilt of the knife.

Two dark figures fell from the tree and landed about twenty paces in front of the carriage.

He wore a long black robe with red clouds, and his conical hat was pulled low. Walking in front was Kakuzu, revealing half of his stitched-up face.

Behind him followed a masked man, also dressed in a black robe with red clouds, thin in build, carrying two short swords on his back—it was his teammate from last time.

Kakuzu's gaze swept across the caravan and stopped on Hasegawa's carriage curtain.

"One hundred million taels."

His voice was hoarse.

"Hand it over."

Shuoge jumped off his horse and walked to the front of the caravan. His knife was behind him, and his hands hung at his sides.

Kakuzu looked at him without saying a word. His hand emerged from his sleeve, black tentacles writhing in the moonlight.

No warnings or threats are needed.

Anyone who blocks the way, kill them.

Sakugo drew his sword. Kakashi's kunai slid out of his sleeve. The hawk and the fox flanked from both sides.

Kakuzu's teammates charged in from the side, their short swords aimed straight for Eiji's throat. The sound of metal clashing exploded in the night air. Kakuzu didn't move; his eyes were fixed on Sakugo.

"It's you again." His voice was even lower. "You got away last time—"

Shuoge held his sword horizontally in front of him, and wind-style chakra condensed into a thin layer of white light on the blade.

Kakuzu's tentacles flew out.